Title: The Darkest Star (Origin, #1)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pub. Date: October 30, 2018

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen…but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she’d only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head…

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I listened to this book via Audible, and I hate myself for waiting so long to get to it. I thoroughly enjoyed The Darkest Star and being back in the world of the Luxen. It was fun running into old characters, and I’m not gonna lie – now I want to reread the whole Lux Series because it’s been years.

I thought the pacing was really good, the writing was really good and honestly, I don’t have anything bad to say about it. I’m pretty sure I’ve said it before on this blog, but Jen’s books are like coming home. She was one of the first YA authors I started reading (after Twilight) and I will always read anything she writes. I will be honest, for a while, I felt like the quality of her books lacked the usual ‘oomf’ I loved about her books – yes, that’s the best description I have. Don’t judge, because you know exactly what I’m talking about. It kind of felt like there was this quantity vs. quality battle raging. On one hand, so many new enjoyable books, but on the on the other, they seemed to really lack some of my favorite qualities that make up her books.

I’ve since learned that Jen had over contracted herself, meaning she had many books to write and very little time to write them. She’s since cut back, and I think it shows in her stories. But again, I will legitimately read anything she publishes so this isn’t a complaint or necessarily a critique, but an acknowledgement. The Darkest Star definitely feels like she had more time to write it, because it reminded me why I love her books so much. Maybe it was because I haven’t been in the world of the Luxen in years – I’m sure that played a part – but if I had to be introduced to Jen’s work by a book, I would not be upset if it had been this one. I loved this book, the characters, and oh my god, the sexual tension / tension in general between Evie and Luc.

I’m here for it.

I really like Evie as a character. She was compassionate and strong and very likeable. Like most people, she has her flaws, but she tries to be a good person. She’s very loyal and friendly and isn’t above putting people in their place. Also like most teenagers, she curious, and that occasionally gets her into trouble. I think she embodied your average human, your average high schooler, but maybe a bit on the more mature side.

As for the love interest – can I just say – let hot aliens come to earth and move to my town? (which happens to be Evie’s) If they’re like Luc – or Daemon for that matter – I volunteer to be the girl next door when they move in. Hell, right now the house across from me in vacant.

Luc was enjoyable. I liked Luc. He was like a mini Daemon, but can you blame him? Look at his authority/‘parental’ figures.

Also, that closet scene.

Sign me tf up.

Evie if you don’t want him, I volunteer.

And speaking of aliens coming to my town (I mentioned this briefly a moment ago) they actually did in this book!

My old high school was featured, as well as the park near it. I knew exactly where Jen was referencing so it made it very easy to picture everything. I will say, Centennial High School isn’t two stories, but one sprawling concrete building that was always overstuffed with too many students for the four years I was there. A second floor would have been hella nice to alleviate some of the congestion, but the stairs would have sucked.

But back to Evie – I kind of saw her twist coming and I love how Luc handled the whole situation. Had it gone another way – I’d probably be raging.

Back to Luc really quick – sorry if this review is kind of scatter brained – Jen really had me wishing Luc was real. Like I wanted to jump into the story and be Evie.

He really cared about her and wanted to protect her and be there for her. He was also a cocky smart ass, but again, look at his ‘parental’ figures. I found it to be a part of his charm, since underneath it all – all the walls, masks, smart ass comments – he’s genuinely a good guy – er, alien – who *redacted for spoilers*

I’m really super excited for book two The Burning Shadow and cannot wait to read it. I felt like the Darkest Star wrapped up nicely, and it’s not the ending that has left me with the desire to need to know what happens next but more like, Jen’s dragged me back into the world of hot aliens and I need more.

I think I see a re-reading of the initial series in my future.

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Check out The Darkest Star if you haven’t already, in preparation for The Burning Shadow out October 8, 2019! And if you haven’t already, catch up and see how the Luxen were introduced with the first book Obsidian, and fall in love with Daemon and Katy!

Who’s your favorite JLA guy? Mine’s probably a tie between Aiden and Jax. Let me know yours in the comments!